Page 5 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt January 2026

Thunderbolt 2025 Year in review January 9, 2026 5
June
Defense attachés visit Luke
U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Elias Carrero
Defense attachés from allied and partner nations and Italian F-35A Lightning II pilots attend an Italian flag raising ceremony during a base visit, June 2, 2025, at Luke
Air Force Base, Arizona. June 2 is Italy’s Republic Day, commemorating the 1946 referendum in which Italians voted to transition from a monarchy to a republic. The group of attachés attended a flag-raising ceremony in honor of the holiday as a show of respect and solidarity with their Italian counterparts, reinforcing the importance of alliance and mutual recognition among partner nations.
http://www.luke.af.mil
Facebook.com/LukeThunderbolt
Luke AFB graduates 1,500th F-35 pilot
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Maj. Rolandus Scherders (left), RNLAF 312th Squadron director
of operations, and RNLAF Lt. Col. Joseph Luijsterburg (right), 308th Fighter Squadron Dutch detachment commander, stand in front of
the 308th Fighter Squadron seal, June 11 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Scherders is Luke AFB’s 1,500th graduate of the F-35 Lightning II pilot training program.
U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Elias Carrero
425th Change of Command 2025
U.S. Air Force photo by A1C Belinda Guachun-Chichay
U.S. Air Force Honor Guard members assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing present the colors during the 425th Fighter Squadron Change of Command Ceremony, May 30, 2025, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The 425th FS, also known as the “Black Widows,” was activated at Luke AFB on Dec. 30, 1992. This squadron operates with a composition of U.S. Airmen and Republic of Singapore Air Force military and civilian personnel, a first of its kind at Luke AFB.
Planning a Military Move?
We’ve Got You
Our Permanent Change of Station (PCS) hub makes your military move a seamless maneuver.
• Calculate how your move will affect your budget
• Explore resources on home buying and vehicle prep • Stay organized with our PCS Checklist
We know you have a lot of decisions to make, and we’ll help you every step of the way.
Visit navyfederal.org/pcs to PCS with success.
Navy Federal is insured by NCUA.
Message and data rates may apply. Visit navyfederal.org for more information. © 2025 Navy Federal NFCU 14491 (12-25)